MLA Bec Cody and Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel discuss plans for the Woolworths extension with building owner Peter Tzanetos. Photo: Supplied.
An extension of the Woolworths supermarket in Kambah Village has been given the green light but two regulated trees will need to make way for the $1.3 million development.
Approval from the planning authority comes as the ACT Government completes its upgrade to Kambah Village, which will include more car parking, green spaces, new play equipment, toilets and barbecue.
The supermarket will double in size from 1721 square metres to 3475 square metres, and retain the BWS liquor store. The development also includes a new covered northern entrance to the centre and eight new ground-level specialty shops, as well as new commercial space, including offices, on Level 1.
Tree management was a point of contention during the approval process with the Tree Protection Unit opposing the removal of the trees because they are excellent quality remnant species.
But ACTPLA decided there was no feasible alternative to the southern/western extension due to site constraints to overrule the TPI, and ACT Heritage confirmed the trees had no specific heritage value.
An artist’s impression of the extended supermarket from the DA.
The developer will need to use the fallen timber as a habitat feature on a nearby site or nature reserve/conservation area, and offset the loss with plantings at a specified volume and location, as well as update its Tree Management Plan to protect another tree during construction.
The $2.3 million upgrades in the public areas around the south-east of the shops include improvements to the existing playground, with new play equipment, including a basket swing, slides, a climbing frame and trampolines as well as a new shade sail to provide coverage over high-use play areas.
Canberra’s first ever splash pad has also been installed, with fountains bubbling up from the ground, for children to enjoy during the warmer months.
New toilets, as well as more seating, additional car parking, improved pedestrian lighting and path connections are also part of the upgrade.
The new covered play area at Kambah Village.
A new irrigated grassed area has been established, which will become a shaded gathering space including 31 new trees, new gardens, a barbecue, shelter and picnic tables and seating.
Minister for City Services Chris Steel said the completion of upgrades to public spaces at Kambah Village delivered on a key Labor election commitment to implement the Master Plan for the group centre.
“We’ve been listening to residents about what they love about Kambah and what can be improved. These upgrades are building community pride and have transformed the decades-old shopping centre into a better place for people,” he said.
He said upgrades to the northern entrance to the Village and a larger supermarket would revitalise the centre and benefit local business in the long term.
“We know that there will be some disruption to local businesses when the private development is built and I call on the Kambah community to continue come down and support them when construction begins,” he said.
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